Ocala woman stabbed during home invasion robbery

Published: Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 9:50 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 9:50 a.m.

A knife-wielding intruder stabbed an Ocala woman in the chest during a home invasion robbery Tuesday morning, officials said.

Ocala police said Connie Cordell, 65, was taken to an undisclosed hospital with serious injuries. She underwent surgery and was listed late Tuesday in serious but stable condition.

Officers said Cordell, who lives in the 1500 block of Northwest Second Avenue, was inside her home and had the door open shortly before 7 a.m. so her cat could go outside and come back in. She told police a man jumped the fence of her yard and came inside her home. She said he was armed with a knife and that he and demanded money. Cordell said she told the robber she did not have any money and he stabbed her in the chest then ran out of the house, according to Ocala Police Department reports.

Cordell described the suspect as a thin white male in his mid-20s. He was wearing a camouflage jacket and blue jeans. She told police she had never seen the man before. After leaving her property, she said, he fled on foot toward North Magnolia Avenue.

When Cordell called 911, she told the dispatcher several times to hurry, according to police.

When officers arrived, they found Cordell sitting in a chair in her living room. She was rushed to the hospital by medical workers.

Police said late Tuesday that they had not been able to speak further with Cordell following her surgery.

Anyone with information can call OPD at 369-7000, the Crime Line at 369-7061 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP. Tips can be sent via the MyPD App, which allows for anonymity; by texting 274637 using keyword 368STOP; or by visiting www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

<p>A knife-wielding intruder stabbed an Ocala woman in the chest during a home invasion robbery Tuesday morning, officials said.</p><p>Ocala police said Connie Cordell, 65, was taken to an undisclosed hospital with serious injuries. She underwent surgery and was listed late Tuesday in serious but stable condition.</p><p>Officers said Cordell, who lives in the 1500 block of Northwest Second Avenue, was inside her home and had the door open shortly before 7 a.m. so her cat could go outside and come back in. She told police a man jumped the fence of her yard and came inside her home. She said he was armed with a knife and that he and demanded money. Cordell said she told the robber she did not have any money and he stabbed her in the chest then ran out of the house, according to Ocala Police Department reports.</p><p>Cordell described the suspect as a thin white male in his mid-20s. He was wearing a camouflage jacket and blue jeans. She told police she had never seen the man before. After leaving her property, she said, he fled on foot toward North Magnolia Avenue.</p><p>When Cordell called 911, she told the dispatcher several times to hurry, according to police.</p><p>When officers arrived, they found Cordell sitting in a chair in her living room. She was rushed to the hospital by medical workers.</p><p>Police said late Tuesday that they had not been able to speak further with Cordell following her surgery.</p><p>Anyone with information can call OPD at 369-7000, the Crime Line at 369-7061 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP. Tips can be sent via the MyPD App, which allows for anonymity; by texting 274637 using keyword 368STOP; or by visiting www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>